The appointment apparently came as a “complete shock” to Reds manager Roy Hodgson, though he put a good face on it.
“It is a strategy which I think makes sense, especially for our club at this moment in time because we are in a period of transition with new owners,” said Hodgson.
Whether Hodgson really believes that is anybody’s guess. But given Comolli’s track record, Hodgson’s statement may prove to be right on the money.
Who’s Damien Comolli?
Comolli cut his teeth with Monaco under the guidance of Arsene Wenger. He later followed Wenger to Arsenal, where he stayed from 1996 until 2003 and gets credit for bringing Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Gael Clichy to North London.
A brief spell at Saint-Etienne followed, before a move to Tottenham where Comolli spent three years acquiring numerous talents who would go on to become top names: Bale, Modric, Assou-Ekotto, Gomes, Kaboul, Hutton, Pavlyuchenko, Bentley, Berbatov. These men and others can be attributed to Comolli’s influence.
But the Frenchman got the heave-ho from Tottenham, along with then manager Juande Ramos, when the Harry Redknapp regime took over. Harry’s “old school” approach to football management likely had something to do with Comolli’s exit. And since Spurs were in poor form at the time who’s to say the change of guard wasn’t the right move?
Indeed, maybe it was. Yet Comolli’s signings for Tottenham have clearly come good in the intervening years. You don’t need to look any further than Gareth Bale for proof.
Hodgson’s Choices
Contrast Comolli’s track record for the London clubs with Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool signings and the differences are clear. Whereas Comolli was aiming at future development, Hodgson has been focused on the here and now, bringing in established men such as Paul Konchesky, Joe Cole, Raul Meireles and Christian Poulsen.
As John W. Henry stated when he announced the signing of Comolli, the objective at Anfield is “to develop, enhance and implement (a) long-term philosophy of scouting, recruitment (and) development.”
And so with Comolli on hand to hunt down talent, Hodgson will now be free to concentrate on field management. What could possibly go wrong?
Martin Jol might have an answer for that. The former Tottenham boss had plenty to say about Comolli’s transfer practices when they worked together at Spurs.
According to Jol, Comolli’s acquisitions were often done without his knowledge, thus leaving Jol in charge of a ship not completely under his own control. Jol didn’t like it, and who can blame him?
Henry’s Challenge
So therein lies the challenge facing John W. Henry as he moves Liverpool forward under the new management structure he has created. For the management team to work effectively Comolli and Hodgson need to communicate and cooperate.
If Martin Jol’s allegations are anything close to the truth, then Damien Comolli may be challenged in this regard. What about Roy Hodgson?
Time will tell. But we may see a glimpse of Hodgson’s potential flexibility through his management experiences. Along with the various English clubs he’s managed Hodgson has worked in Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, United Arab Emirates and Denmark. He may, therefore, be the most cosmopolitan of English top flight managers. And as such may be well-suited to a management system that defines roles and responsibilities in ways foreign to the English football tradition.
Let’s sum it up his way: If Comolli and Hodgson work cooperatively, Comolli’s development activities should compliment Hodgson’s on-field management. Liverpool’s loss to Stoke City this weekend suggests that the sooner the two start working together the better.
As Hodgson himself said, “The days of the dictatorial type of English manager have long since passed anyway."
That may be. But if so it gives rise to yet another question: Has anybody told Sir Alex Ferguson this?
